Heart Charity Calls For The Government To Try Harder On Palliative Care

Main Category: Palliative Care / Hospice Care
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 18 May 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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In response to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee End of Life Care Report published Ruairi O'Connor, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said:

"Today's report strongly supports points made by the 40 members of the Cardio and Vascular Coalition in its recent Destination 2020 document. Given the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease is now ten years old, the CVC is calling for a renewed strategic approach to cardio and vascular disease, from prevention through to end of life care.

"Many cardiac and vascular patients are affected by issues highlighted in the report and receive less specialist palliative care compared to other conditions. The BHF calls on government to increase efforts to reduce the current unbalanced provision of palliative and supportive care for heart patients. This should include improving health professionals' training in basic end of life care and ensuring patient preferences are met, including the right to die in their place of choice."

Source
British Heart Foundation